Slider actuated opening feature

ABSTRACT

A pouch includes sidewalls that define a mouth, a cam member disposed proximate the mouth, and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong. The slider engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a feature that is actuated by a slider for maintaining a mouth of a pouch in an open condition.

2. Background of the Invention

A pouch, such as a bag having flexible walls defining a mouth and an interior cavity, is useful for storing items therein. Generally, an item may be inserted and removed from the interior cavity through the mouth. However, if the pouch has flexible walls, the mouth often must be maintained in an open position by a user with one hand, for example, while inserting an item into the pouch using the other hand. This can sometimes be cumbersome or inconvenient and, therefore, it is desirable to have a pouch with a mechanism for holding the mouth in an open position that will free up both hands of a user for performing other tasks.

One design developed to alleviate this situation includes a reclosable plastic bag having a zipper closure and a camber-inducing strip disposed adjacent a top of the bag on an outside of one or more sides of the bag co-extensively with the zipper closure. The camber-inducing strips have a retained coil memory, such that when the zipper closure is disengaged, the camber-inducing strips bow outwardly to cause the top of the bag to assume a wide-open posture. The plastic bag may include a slider coupled to the zipper closure for engaging and disengaging same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one example, a pouch includes sidewalls that define a mouth, a cam member disposed proximate the mouth, and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong. The slider engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.

According to another example, a closure assembly includes a first closure member opposing a second closure member and a slider coupled to the first and second closure members, wherein the closure members comprise elongate strips. The slider de-couples the first closure member from the second closure member when urged in an opening direction along the closure members and couples the first closure member to the second closure member when urged in a closing direction along the closure members. The closure assembly further includes a cam member disposed proximate at least one of the first and second closure members. The slider engages the cam member to maintain the first and second closure members in a spread apart condition when urged in the opening direction.

According to a further example, a method of maintaining a mouth defined by sidewalls of a pouch in a spread apart condition, wherein the pouch includes an opening feature disposed proximate the mouth and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong, includes the steps of sliding the slider in an opening direction along the mouth to automatically engage the opening feature, and engaging the opening feature with the slider to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.

Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, wherein similar structures have similar reference numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of a pouch having an opening feature according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pouch of FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a pouch having an opening feature according to another embodiment shown in a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the pouch of FIG. 3 in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a pouch having an opening feature according to yet another embodiment shown in a closed position; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the pouch of FIG. 5 in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pouch 20 includes an opening feature according to one aspect of the invention. The pouch 20 has a first sidewall 22 and a second sidewall 24 that are connected together along peripheral side and bottom edges (only peripheral side edges 26, 28 are shown) to define an interior space 30 and an open mouth 32 along a top edge, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill. The pouch 20 can be made from any suitable material, such as paper, foil, and/or flexible thermoplastic, and the sidewalls 22, 24 may be connected in any suitable manner, such as folding, heat sealing, and/or adhesive.

As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 1, an elongate closure mechanism 34 is disposed along the first and second sidewalls 22, 24 across substantially the entire length of the mouth 32 between the peripheral side edges 26, 28 to allow the mouth to be selectively sealed and opened. The closure mechanism 34 may include any elongate sealing members, such as elongate resealable closure strips, that are sufficient to releasably close the mouth 32 along the length of the closure mechanism. Preferably, the closure mechanism 34 includes first and second interlocking members 36, 38, wherein each of the interlocking members 36, 38 includes an elongate closure profile disposed along the mouth 32 of the pouch 20 and projects inwardly toward the other interlocking member. The elongate closure profiles of the first and second interlocking members 36, 38 may include one or more interlocking male and female profiles, respectively, as known in the art. However, the closure mechanism 34 of the present invention is not limited to any specific configuration of closure profiles and may include other shapes and/or numbers of closure profiles that, preferably, would form a seal across the mouth 32 of the pouch 20. Some examples of closure mechanisms that may be adapted for use as described herein are illustrated in Pawloski U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,298 and Pawloski et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,736, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Other contemplated resealable members may include adhesive strips, hook and loop fasteners, and other inter-engaging mechanisms sufficient to releasably close and reclose the mouth 32. Further, the closure mechanism 34 may be integral with or separate and attached to the respective first and second sidewalls 22, 24.

An opening feature 50 is coupled to the pouch 20 proximate the mouth 32 and the peripheral edge 26. The opening feature 50 includes first and second cam members 52, 54, disposed on the first and second sidewalls 22, 24, respectively. The cam members 52, 54 can be selectively squeezed together by a slider to pivot from a closed position with the mouth 32 closed into an open position that maintains the mouth 32 of the pouch 20 in an open condition. The second cam member 54 (best seen in FIG. 1) is disposed below the mouth 32 and the closure mechanism 34 of the pouch 20 and includes a first portion, such as a first arm 56A, attached to the sidewall 24 and a second portion, such as a second arm 58A, coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm and sidewall. Preferably, the second arm 58A is disposed at an obtuse angle from the first arm 56A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such as at an angle between 90° and 180°, and more preferably at an angle between about 145° and about 175°, such as an angle of about 150°. The second arm 54 is spaced away from the sidewall 24 when the mouth 32 is closed, and the first and the second portions of the cam member 54 define a pivot point therebetween about which the cam member 54 can pivot against the sidewall 24 as described below. The second cam member 54 may further include a support structure 60A, such as, plastic webbing or a generally inelastic rib, coupled between the first and second arms 56, 58 to maintain the second arm at a predefined and/or fixed angle with respect to the first arm. In other embodiments, the support structure 60A may be omitted and the first and second arms 56, 58 may be made from a material that is sufficiently resilient so that the angle between the arms 56, 58 is maintained under stress without requiring the support structure 60A. In addition, the second arm 58A may also include a detent 62A, such as a notch, the function of which will be described in more detail hereinafter. As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill, the first cam member 52 is preferably, although not necessarily, a mirror image of the second cam member 54 disposed on the first sidewall 22 and likewise includes a first arm 56B and a second arm 58B that are angularly aligned so as to define a pivot point therebetween, a support structure 60B connecting the first and second arms 56B and 58B, and a detent 62B defined in the second arm 58B. The first arm 56A and the first arm 56B are aligned with each other on opposite sidewalls 24 and 22, respectively, generally parallel to the closure mechanism 34 with the pivot points facing each other on opposite sides of the mouth 32. Alternatively, one of the cam members 52 or 54 may simply be a straight strip of resilient material without having angled portions forming a pivot point. The first and second cam members 52, 54 may be made from any material having suitable structural properties, for example, a resilient, flexible plastic, such as, polyethylene or polypropylene, metal, wood, and similar materials, and may be attached to the sidewalls 22, 24 in any suitable manner, such as, by snapping into engagement structures, heat sealing, and/or adhesive. Further, the position of the cam members 52, 54 may be modified in other embodiments, for example, to be placed along the closure mechanism 34 or above the closure mechanism. As shown in FIG. 1, the arms 56A, 58A, 56B, and 58B of the cam members 52, 54 have the shape of rectangular strips. However, the cam members 52, 54 may have any other shape sufficient to provide the functionality of pivoting apart to maintain the mouth 32 open in response to selective actuation by a slider as described in further detail herein.

The pouch 20 further includes a slider 70 that is coupled to the mouth 32 to slide therealong in an opening direction A and in a closing direction B opposite the opening direction for opening and closing the closure mechanism 34. The slider 70 may take any shape sufficient to actuate the opening feature 50 in accordance with the manner described herein. In the embodiment shown, the slider 70 includes generally parallel, opposing sidewalls 72, 74 that are spaced from each other and coupled together by a top wall 76 to define a channel 78 therebetween. The mouth 32, including the interlocking members 36, 38 and top edges of the sidewalls 22, 24, are disposed within the channel 78. The slider 70 further includes an extension 80 that extends downwardly from a lower portion of the sidewall 74 for engaging the opening feature 50. In the present embodiment, the extension 80 is shown proximate a first end 82 of the sidewall 74 and slider 70. However, in other embodiments, the extension can be disposed proximate an opposite second end 84 of the sidewall 74 or anywhere between the first and second ends 82, 84. Preferably, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill, another extension that is preferably a mirror image of the extension 80 also extends downwardly from the sidewall 72.

In use, the slider 70 is slid in the opening direction A along the closure mechanism 34 towards the peripheral edge 26 until the slider 70 automatically engages the opening feature 50 to maintain the mouth 32 in a spread-apart condition. When the slider 70 first reaches the cam members 52, 54, the first arms 56A and 56B enter into the channel 78 and/or between the extensions 80 of the slider. As the slider moves further along the opening feature 50, portions of the slider 70, such as the sidewalls 72, 74 and/or the extensions 80, slide over the second arms 58A, 58B of the cam members 52, 54 and urge the second arms together therebetween, thereby causing the cam members 52, 54 to pivot about the respective pivot points and urge the first arms 56A, 56B apart into an open position. As best seen in FIG. 2, because the first arms 56A, 56B are coupled to the sidewalls 22, 24, the action of urging the first arms apart simultaneously functions to maintain the mouth 32 in a spread-apart condition. If it is desired to close the mouth 32, the slider 70 is slid in the opposite closing direction B to disengage from the opening feature 50, whereby the pivoting action of the cam members 52, 54 is reversed.

The slider 70 optionally may also be configured to releasably lock with a detent on the opening feature in the open position. In one example best seen in FIG. 1, a portion of the slider 70, such as extensions 80 and/or other similar feature, lockingly engage with the cam members 52, 54 by resiliently snapping into the notches of detents 62A, 62B in the second arms 58A, 58B and thereby releasably lock the opening feature 50 in the open position to maintain the mouth 32 in the spread-apart condition. Engagement of the slider 70 with the detents 62A, 62B preferably also provides a tactile and/or audible indication to the user that the slider 70 has fully engaged the opening feature 50. The detents 62A, 62B may additionally or alternatively include projections that interlockingly snap-fit with complimentary notches in the slider 70. Other types and arrangements of releasable locking and/or tactile/audible indicating features that would be suitable for releasably locking the slider 70 and the opening feature 50 in the open position may be used, such as with other snap-fit detent structures, adhesives, interference or clamping fits, and/or other locking mechanisms as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill. The slider may be released from the detents 62A, 62B by, for example, bending the extensions 80 outwardly out of the notches.

Preferably, the slider 70 includes features to close or occlude the closure mechanism 34 of the pouch 20 when slid in the closing direction B and to separate or de-occlude the closure mechanism 34 when slid in the opening direction A. Generally, such features may include closure bars to press the closure mechanism 34 together and a separator member for separating the closure mechanism as known in the art. The slider 70 and pouch 20 may also include features that facilitate the slider to remain engaged with the mouth 32 and the closure mechanism 34. For example, the pouch 20 may include heat sealed portions adjacent the side edges 26, 28 that interact with a separator member of the slider 70 to prevent the slider from sliding off of the mouth 32. In the present embodiment, the detents 62A, 62B or other portions of the arms 56, 58 may also interact with the slider 70 to prevent the slider from sliding off of the mouth 32. If portions of the opening feature 50 are used to maintain the slider 70 on the mouth 32, then the mouth 32 of the pouch 20 could be widened by omitting the heat sealed portions adjacent the side edges 26, 28, which are features commonly used in prior pouches to retain a slider thereon. Exemplary sliders suitable to be adapted for use with the opening feature are disclosed in Porchia et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,285 and Ackerman U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,782, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Other sliders may also be adapted for use consistent with the disclosure herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of the invention includes the pouch 20 similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 with cam members 52, 54 having first and second arms 56, 58, wherein the second arms 58 extend from the first arms 56 by different angles compared to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first arms 56A and 56B attached to the respective outer surfaces of side walls 22 and 24 are relatively long, and the second arms 58A and 58B are relatively short and project outwardly therefrom at substantially right angles. The slider 70 of FIGS. 3 and 4 is generally similar to the slider of FIGS. 1 and 2, but includes a tapered portion 100 within the channel 78 defined by and between the sidewalls 72, 74. The tapered portion 100 is formed by angled portions of opposing inner surfaces of one or both of the sidewalls 72, 74 such that the channel 78 is narrower toward the first end 82 of the slider 70 than at the second end 84. However, in other embodiments, the tapered portion 100 may be narrower at any location between the first and second ends 82, 84. The tapered portion 100 can be used in conjunction with or in the alternative to the extensions 80 of FIGS. 1 and 2 to engage automatically the opening feature 50 and maintain the mouth 32 in a spread apart condition, as seen in FIG. 4. The second arms 58A, 58B are short enough to fit between wider portions of the channel 78 so that, in operation, as the slider 70 travels across the opening feature 50, the first arms 56A, 56B of the cam members 52, 54 pass through the channel 78 of the slider until the second arms 58A, 58B reach the tapered portion 100. When the second arms 58A, 58B engage against the tapered portions 100, the angled portions of the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 72, 74 push against the distal ends of the second arms 58A, 58B and rotate the cam members 52 about pivot points as shown in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment generally similar to the pouch 20 of FIGS. 3 and 4, but wherein portions of the cam members 52, 54 are disposed on inner surfaces of the sidewalls 22, 24 of the pouch. For example, the first arms 56 of the cam members 52, 54 are disposed on inner surfaces of the sidewalls 22, 24 and the second arms 58A, 58B extend through an opening in each respective sidewall 22, 24 to outer surfaces thereof. The arrangement of the first arms 56 on inner surfaces and the second arms 58 through the sidewalls 22, 24 to outer surfaces provides an alternative method of securing the cam members 52, 54 to the pouch 20. In the present embodiment, the first arms 56 need not be attached to the sidewalls 22, 24 in order for the first arms to urge apart the sidewalls 22, 24 and maintain the mouth in a spread-apart condition. In other embodiments, the cam members 52, 54 may include additional projections, such as arms 110 that extend perpendicularly from the first arms 56 through the sidewalls 22, 24 to further secure the cam members 52, 54 to the pouch. The additional arms 110 are configured so that the inner surfaces of the slider 70 at the tapered portion 100 do not engage the arms 110 as the slider 70 is slid along the mouth 32. For example, the cam members 52, 54 may be angled with respect to the mouth 32 so that the second arms 58 are in line with the slider 70 but the additional arms 110 are positioned below the slider 70 as the slider slides along the mouth. In another example, the additional arms 110 may extend through the sidewalls 22, 24 a shorter distance than the second arms 58 so that the slider 70 passes over the arms 110 without engaging same.

Other embodiments of the disclosure including all the possible different and various combinations of the individual features of each of the foregoing described embodiments are specifically included herein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

An opening feature is disclosed herein that allows a pouch to be automatically maintained in an open, spread apart condition when a slider is slid in an opening direction. In one example, the slider functions to open and close a mouth of the pouch and to engage the opening feature to maintain the mouth in an open condition. The opening feature disclosed herein allows a user to selectively engage the opening feature with the slider to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition without the mouth automatically spreading apart, thereby providing more user control than some of the prior art designs. In addition, the ability to selectively maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition without the use of camber-inducing strips may provide a mouth that is easier to close and seal when desired. Further, the opening feature and slider disclosed herein can in some embodiments be easily applied to existing pouches without any substantial redesign to such pouches.

Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive right to all modifications within the scope of the impending claims is expressly reserved. All patents, patent publications and applications, and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 

We claim:
 1. A pouch, comprising: sidewalls that define a mouth; a cam member disposed proximate the mouth; and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong, wherein the slider engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.
 2. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the cam member includes a first arm disposed proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm and the mouth.
 3. The pouch of claim 2, wherein the first arm is disposed on an interior surface of the mouth and the second arm extends through a sidewall to an outer surface of the mouth.
 4. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls include first and second walls that define the mouth and the cam member includes a first cam portion disposed on the first wall and a second cam portion disposed on the second wall.
 5. The pouch of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second cam portions includes a first arm attached proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm and the mouth.
 6. The pouch of claim 5, wherein the slider slides over the first and second cam portions and urges the second arms together and the first arms apart.
 7. The pouch of claim 6, wherein the slider includes extensions that extend downwardly from sidewalls of the slider, and wherein the extensions slide over the first and second cam portions and urge the second arms together and the first arms apart.
 8. The pouch of claim 6, wherein the slider defines a channel with a tapered portion and the mouth is disposed within the channel, further wherein the tapered portion slides over the first and second cam portions and urges the second arms together and the first arms apart.
 9. The pouch of claim 1, further comprising a closure mechanism disposed proximate the mouth, wherein the slider is coupled to the closure mechanism and opens the closure mechanism when urged in an opening direction and closes the closure mechanism when urged in a closing direction, and wherein the slider automatically engages the cam member to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition when urged in the opening direction.
 10. The pouch of claim 9, wherein the closure mechanism includes opposing first and second interlocking closure members and the cam member is disposed below the first and second interlocking closure members.
 11. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the cam member and slider are configured so that when the slider engages the cam member the slider can be releasably locked into place to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition, a tactile and/or audible indication that the slider has engaged the cam member is provided, and/or the slider is prevented from sliding off of the mouth.
 12. A closure assembly, comprising: a first closure member opposing a second closure member, wherein the closure members comprise elongate strips; a slider coupled to the first and second closure members, wherein the slider de-couples the first closure member from the second closure member when urged in an opening direction along the closure members and couples the first closure member to the second closure member when urged in a closing direction along the closure members; and a cam member disposed proximate at least one of the first and second closure members, wherein the slider engages the cam member to maintain the first and second closure members in a spread apart condition when urged in the opening direction.
 13. The closure assembly of claim 12, wherein the cam member includes a first cam portion disposed proximate the first closure member and a second cam portion disposed proximate the second closure member, and wherein each of the first and second cam portions includes a first arm attached proximate a respective one of the first and second closure members and a second arm coupled to the first arm at a pivot point and extending angularly away from the first arm.
 14. The closure assembly of claim 13, wherein the first arms are disposed on interior surfaces of the closure members and the second arms extend through the closure members to outer surfaces thereof.
 15. The closure assembly of claim 13, wherein the slider engages the first and second cam portions to urge together the second arms and urge apart the first arms about the pivot point.
 16. The closure assembly of claim 15, wherein the slider includes extensions that extend downwardly from sidewalls of the slider, and wherein the extensions engage the first and second cam portions to urge together the second arms and urge apart the first arms.
 17. The closure assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second closure members comprise interlocking closure members and the cam member is disposed below the first and second interlocking closure members.
 18. A method of maintaining a mouth defined by sidewalls of a pouch in a spread apart condition, wherein the pouch includes an opening feature disposed proximate the mouth and a slider coupled to the mouth and moveable therealong, comprising the steps of: sliding the slider in an opening direction along the mouth to automatically engage the opening feature; and engaging the opening feature with the slider to maintain the mouth in a spread apart condition.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the opening feature includes first and second opposing cam members, the first cam member including a first arm disposed proximate the mouth and a second arm coupled to the first arm and extending angularly away from the first arm, wherein the method includes the step of engaging the second arm with the slider to urge the second arm toward the second cam member and the first arms apart from the second cam member.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the pouch includes a closure mechanism disposed proximate the mouth, and wherein the step of sliding the slider in an opening direction de-couples the closure mechanism, and further wherein the method comprises the step of sliding the slider in a closing direction to disengage the opening feature and couple the closure mechanism. 